Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visited Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh on Saturday morning to discuss Lebanon’s response to a proposal submitted earlier this week by U.S. envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack.
The proposal was conveyed to the Lebanese government through Druze leader and former Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) chief Walid Joumblatt, following his meeting with the American envoy. On Thursday, Joumblatt announced that he had handed over his party’s weapons to the authorities, in line with international — particularly U.S. — demands for the disarmament of Hezbollah.
The document presented by Tom Barrack on behalf of the U.S. administration calls for an end to the state of conflict with Israel and urges new commitments from Beirut regarding the state’s monopoly over arms and the restoration of full sovereignty across Lebanese territory. Progress on the matter has stalled in recent months despite consultations between President Joseph Aoun and lawmakers from the party.
According to a statement issued from Ain el-Tineh, Speaker Berri discussed with Nawaf Salam “the situation in Lebanon and the region, as well as political and on-the-ground developments in light of Israel’s continued violations of the cease-fire agreement and its attacks on Lebanon, the latest being an Israeli airstrike on the Nabatieh area on Friday.” Berri also reviewed the evolving situation in the South with Army Commander-in-Chief General Rodolphe Haykal.
Strengthening the army’s role
According to information obtained by our publication, the U.S. proposal includes expanding the mandate of the Cease-fire Monitoring Committee — established following the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel — and calls for a bolstered deployment of the Lebanese Army in the South in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
In return, and according to an Arab diplomatic source, Washington is working to apply real pressure on Israel to halt its near-daily attacks on Lebanon and to establish a clear timeline for withdrawing from five positions still occupied by the Israeli army.
The document also includes a section on reforms to the Lebanese state, as well as on Lebanese-Syrian relations.
If the proposal is approved by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Speaker Nabih Berri and President Joseph Aoun, it will be submitted to the Cabinet for official endorsement. The response will then be delivered to Barrack, who is expected in Beirut in two weeks, and he will in turn convey it to both Israel and Syria.
Log in to your account to see the results of the polls According to information obtained by our publication, the U.S. proposal includes expanding the mandate of the Cease-fire Monitoring Committee — established following the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel — and calls for a bolstered deployment of the Lebanese Army in the South in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).In return, and according to an Arab diplomatic source, Washington is working to apply real pressure on Israel to halt its near-daily attacks on Lebanon and to establish a clear timeline for withdrawing from five positions still occupied by the Israeli army. Read also Monopoly on arms: Why did Joumblatt make the first move now? ...
